

Ashanti's bawdy has been goals for over 10 years, and you're foolish if you think that came without hard work and dedication.
Summer is coming quicker than I can renew my gym membership and spring can be considered crunch time for everyone who's gotten behind on their annual fitness goals. It's just our luck that some of our favorite celebs are dropping their fitness regimes and dieting tips just in time to get us summertime fine for the new season. Ashanti is the latest star to drop the deets on how she keeps her snatched physique all year long.
According to the 38-year-old star of the new musical, Stuck, colonics, squats, and fasting are the keys to shedding a few pounds and keeping them off. She told PEOPLE:
"It's good to fast. Also, this may be TMI, but colonics are great, too."
Along with those methods, Ashanti said that it's important to wear clothes that are flattering to your specific body type. Nothing's worse than a night out spent tugging and pulling on your clothes because you're insecure about how they fit. Do yourself a favor and wear something that not only looks good but feels good too. Ashanti explained:
"As women, we already have to wear uncomfortable shoes, so our feet are always hurting. So if you can find an outfit that looks amazing, fits amazing and it's comfortable, you're winning."
Along with these dieting and style tips, here are a few other things we can learn about working on our fitness fromthe "What's Luv" singer:
Finding Balance
All work and no play makes you a very hungry woman. Take a page out of Ashanti's book and master the art of balance by allowing yourself at least two cheat days per week; just make sure those cheat days don't turn into cheat weeks. She told PEOPLE:
"To have balance, you have to eat clean and you have to work out. You have to allow yourself at least two cheat days so that it doesn't become too strict."
Other Fish In The Sea
Lately, stars like Adrienne Houghton, Beyonce, and Issa Rae have been dropping gems about their trendy alternative diets and these meal planning options are taking the internet by storm. Along with going vegan, paleo, and vegetarian, going pescatarian is another way to achieve a healthier lifestyle. Ashanti, who has refined her meat choices to only sea animals, says going pescatarian and cutting out GMOs is part of the secret to her snack-worthy bawdy.
"I cut out a lot of meat. I think again, self-health and self-awareness are so important. All of that stuff is so important to maintaining your body, knowing what's in your food, the GMO's and the chemicals, and I'm super aware of this stuff."
Consistency Is Key
If you're like me, working out is great… until you make it to day three. Some people say that as you work out more, it'll become easier, but I am not a testament to that theory. After a work out, I'm always glad I did, but the struggle to get my sports bra over my gigantic chest and muster up the energy to go to the gym definitely rains on my parade. Ashanti told PEOPLE that having a trainer has helped her on her fitness journey because he's intentional about maintaining consistency:
"I feel like it's very necessary to just be aware of what you're eating. I have a trainer and we try to go five days a week when I'm home and then when I get to another place, he's texting me a workout or he'll FaceTime me and say, 'Are you still in the bed?' We try to keep it going."
Ashanti's latest feature film, Stuck, is in theaters now and by the looks of the movie premiere red carpet, Ashanti will be serving us fitness goals the whole damn movie.
Originally published April 20, 2019
Featured image by Tinseltown / Shutterstock.com
- Goals: Ashanti Lived Her Best Life In A Bikini All Year Long ... ›
- To Fit: 15 Times Ashanti Served Body In Honor Of Her 37th Birthday ›
- Ashanti Does The Lemon-Pepper-Maple Fast Diet Plan ... ›
- Ashanti talks health, fitness as new album 'Braveheart' is released ... ›
- Ashanti dishes on 'body goals' diet, exercise at 2019 Bounce ... ›
- Ashanti: Realistic About Her Body Goals | BlackDoctor ›
- Ashanti shares the secret to her snatched shape - Rolling Out ›
Taylor "Pretty" Honore is a spiritually centered and equally provocative rapper from Baton Rouge, Louisiana with a love for people and storytelling. You can probably find me planting herbs in your local community garden, blasting "Back That Thang Up" from my mini speaker. Let's get to know each other: @prettyhonore.
'He Said, She Said': Love Stories Put To The Test At A Weekend For Love
At the A Weekend For Love retreat, we sat down with four couples to explore their love stories in a playful but revealing way with #HeSaidSheSaid. From first encounters to life-changing moments, we tested their memories to see if their versions of events aligned—because, as they say, every story has three sides: his, hers, and the truth.
Do these couples remember their love stories the same way? Press play to find out.
Episode 1: Indira & Desmond – Love Across the Miles
They say distance makes the heart grow fonder, but for Indira & Desmond, love made it stronger. Every mile apart deepened their bond, reinforcing the unshakable foundation of their relationship. From their first "I love you" to the moment they knew they had found home in each other, their journey is a beautiful testament to the endurance of true love.
Episode 2: Jay & Tia – A Love Story Straight Out of a Rom-Com
If Hollywood is looking for its next Black love story, they need to take notes from Jay & Tia. Their journey—from an awkward first date to navigating careers, parenthood, and personal growth—proves that love is not just about romance but also resilience. Their story is full of laughter, challenges, and, most importantly, a love that stands the test of time.
Episode 3: Larencia & Mykel – Through the Highs and Lows
A date night with police helicopters overhead? Now that’s a story! Larencia & Mykel have faced unexpected surprises, major life changes, and 14 years of choosing each other every single day. But after all this time, do they actually remember things the same way? Their episode is sure to bring some eye-opening revelations and a lot of laughs.
Episode 4: Soy & Osei – A Love Aligned in Purpose
From a chance meeting at the front door to 15 years of unwavering love, faith, and growth, Soy & Osei prove that when two souls are aligned in love and purpose, nothing can shake their foundation. Their journey is a powerful reminder that true love is built on mutual support, shared values, and a deep connection that only strengthens with time.
Each of these couples has a unique and inspiring story to tell, but do their memories match up? Watch #HeSaidSheSaid to find out!
Let’s make things inbox official! Sign up for the xoNecole newsletter for love, wellness, career, and exclusive content delivered straight to your inbox.
Feature image screenshot/ xoNecole YouTube
How Power Women Protect Their Finances With Smart Money Boundaries
No matter what it is, setting boundaries can be challenging, especially when those boundaries involve money. But if you want to sustain success and financial freedom, boundaries are important, both with yourself and with others.
Many wealthy successful women have mastered setting boundaries and prioritizing accountability so that they can ensure they remain that way. Let's face it: If you want a certain quality of life and you work hard to achieve that, you don't want to risk it by taking on habits that jeopardize your financial stability.
Be inspired to not only set money boundaries but keep them by taking heed to the common financial boundaries power women of today establish:
1. They pay themselves first.
Building consistent savings habits is important to wealth-building no matter how much you earn, and the practice is often one that continues even after you're well-booked and well-paid. Actress, producer, and philanthropist Queen Latifah has always been a proponent of this after learning from her mom to "save your money."
This is the epitome of the energy behind paying yourself first. You squirrel something away and take care of yourself by taking care of your future first, before paying any bills. You invest in yourself (within your means and with a budget in mind, of course).
2. They don't loan money without clear repayment rules and expectations are agreed upon.
It's awesome to be able to help people out by loaning them money, but when you don't communicate clearly about repayment (or what will happen if the money is not repaid) you set yourself up for a cycle of taking on other's debts and maybe even building more debt of your own.
Unless you're doing charity, set those boundaries early about when and how a loan will be repaid. And if you know you won't get the money back, rethink the loan altogether.
3. They create budgets that are realistic and reflect their current lifestyle.
In her book, What I Know for Sure, Oprah Winfrey wrote, “I hope the way you spend your money is in line with the truth of who you are and what you care about.” This is key for many successful women, especially when they're budgeting and investing.
Issa Rae told Money.com, "I don’t splurge just because. I will never have 17 cars. I will never have expensive jewelry. I don’t spend that much on my clothes, or shoes. I will spend money on a stylist, and a makeup artist, because those things feel necessary for work. But material things? No."
There's a clear indication that there are clear value systems sustained by what matters to them no matter how much they make, and budgeting is a huge part of that.
4. They consider the long-term effects of a rash purchase before proceeding.
It's totally okay to treat yourself, but if you find yourself impulsively buying things you don't really need or always living check to check because you've maxed out your credit card to take that sixth trip in one year, there's a problem that might put a damper on those financial freedom plans. (That is unless your trip is part of how you make your money, and it's a worthy investment into expanding your prospects.)
Successful women are conscious of the long- and short-term effects of purchases, small and large. They're always thinking about how one action can impact the bigger picture.
5. They are givers and believe in the reciprocity of that.
Many of us are familiar with the famous quote, "To whom much is given, must is required," and there's that undertone of service and charity that is a common thread for wealthy, successful women, especially those who run businesses or lead brands. Involving yourself in acts of service not only enriches your development and that of communities, but it increases your exposure, network, and credibility, often leading to more opportunities to make more money.
Most leading CEOs, entrepreneurs, and professionals are big on giving back, whether it is through resources, a nonprofit, money, or their time. "As you become more successful, it's important for you to give back. Even if you can't financially give back, kind words and sharing about other businesses on social media mean so much. Every little thing counts. Help out your friends and family with advice, encouragement, and support," said Angela Yee, award-winning radio host and entrepreneur.
Let’s make things inbox official! Sign up for the xoNecole newsletter for love, wellness, career, and exclusive content delivered straight to your inbox.
Featured image by Charday Penn/Getty Images
Originally published on August 16, 2024